Lago Vista Resort

The staff were very nice, and the apartments were great: clean, well divided, and well equipped. We noticed a few very minor maintenance issues. There's a nice heated pool, a small kids' park, and an outdoor BBQ area. The location is handy for Walt Disney and other great attractions, though not the best for evening walks. Skip the complimentary breakfast if you don't want to hear more about timeshare-type deals.

I visited friends who were staying here. There's not much around, and the apartments look older, but the inside was actually pretty decent for what they paid. Their unit had a kitchen with appliances and a dishwasher, plus a dining room, living room, patio, bedrooms, and bathrooms. The community also has a small pool and grill. Good value, just no fluffy perks.

We've returned for many years, mainly because this place is so central to all the parks. The resort itself is a little run down, and its heyday was back in the '80s. For about the same money as a reasonable hotel, you get an apartment with a full kitchen, a pool, and access to laundry facilities.

The unit is almost twice the size of my current apartment, and it works as a place to sleep during a visit, even though it's dated. We stayed two separate nights while visiting family. The main bathroom shower drained so slowly that by the end of a shower, it had turned into a bath. The pull-out sofa mattress also needs to be retired. There was no padding, and I felt like I was sleeping right on the support beams. Those were the only real negatives.